The state needs a solution that respects the rights of home-share hosts and their neighbors.

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How many Airbnbs can a neighborhood absorb before it's no longer a neighborhood?

Picture a residential block in your community. A street with 10 houses, say, where one of them is an investment property, rented out to short-stay visitors on a site such as Airbnb. Now let's say three of the houses are short-term rentals. Or imagine a small apartment building of 10 units — where all 10 are Airbnbs.

In some communities, that's becoming reality. From New York City to Lake Placid, municipalities are grappling with the growth in the number of home-share properties. Dealing with this will take an approach that balances the rights of homeowners with the need for communities to protect their character and affordability.

In Lake Placid — a winter sports mecca that has managed to keep its small-town vibe — residents packed the room earlier this year as town and village officials weighed how to respond to a surge in the number of homes offered for short-term stays. The rentals are driving up real estate prices, shutting locals out of their own housing market. Residents complained about parking problems and noisy parties. Some worried for the character of their village: If the number of year-round residents declines, who will put in the hard work of community building, volunteering, supporting the schools? After all, being part of a community is more than just paying property taxes.

Now consider New York City: With more than 50,000 units on Airbnb, it's the company's largest U.S. market. A 2014 state analysis concluded that more than 70 percent of Airbnb rentals there were illegal.

Violations of short-term rental laws have been profitable for property managers — and, by extension, for Airbnb. The city recently accused a group of real estate brokers of making millions by turning 130 apartments into illegal hotel rooms — including a whole Harlem building.

Last year, New York City passed a law requiring home-sharing services to give the city detailed information about listed units, including the names and addresses of hosts. A judge has blocked the law, saying that collecting those records would constitute an illegal search and seizure.

One could argue that people who sell temporary access to their house are engaging in a business, and thus lose some of their privacy. Governments regulate business. Businesses have an obligation to demonstrate regulatory compliance on safety, zoning, and the like. That's nothing new.

Many of the issues are local, but the state has a valid role. Two bills in the Assembly call for establishing a state registry of short-term rental units, and set some basic safety standards for what's now an unregulated industry. These are sensible first steps to help communities get a grasp on the rentals and their local impact.

Before passing any broader statewide bill, though, the Legislature should hold hearings around the state to find out, among other things, how much local control over this industry people want. The issues home-share rentals pose in Manhattan won't be the same as in Southampton, Clifton Park or Albany. New York needs a solution all New Yorkers can live with, and live next to.